The Salem City Council Monday night will consider writing off $14,082 in uncollected utility debt that is more than seven years old. City Manager Rex Barbee says accounting rules indicate that if the debt is older than seven years, they can no longer carry it on account balances and it should be written off. Barbee says $3,396 is from deceased account holder balance who did not have an estate. The other $10,685 is from customers who have moved out of town and left an amount due with no forwarding address or were unresponsive. Barbee says the individual amounts are still tied to the customer’s name and if they return in the future to establish utilities in their names, the past due amount will show up, and they will attempt to establish a payment plan.
The Salem Police Department is seeking permission to surplus a number of unclaimed firearms that they have accumulated over the last several years. The guns were searched in databases through LEADS and found no claims or indication they have been involved in crimes. If approved, the guns would be sold to local dealers with the funds use to purchase accessory items for their current weapons.
The council will be asked to replace one of the two pumps in the Goose Creek sewer lift station needed to push materials through the sewer pipeline. The proposed replacement pump from Hydro-Kinetics would have a cost of $9,285.
The council will be asked to approve a total bill of $44,160 to JK Trotter and Sons for an emergency valve replacement at the Salem Water Treatment Plant. The cost is $9,160 over estimate due to extra work uncovered as they completed the repairs.
The meeting begins at six Monday night at Salem City Hall.
